His parents Warren and Elizabeth Ives (née Ladd) were descendants of early American settlers with roots going as far back as the 1630s.

He was later transferred to the 15th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment (with whom he served for the majority of the war) and was discharged from service in June 1865.

He later attended the University of Michigan Law School and, after graduating in 1871, relocated to St. Peter, Minnesota.

Ives was a candidate for the Republican nomination for governor in 1892 but was defeated by Knute Nelson.

[1][2] While he did not hold another elected office, Ives remained active in state politics and later moved to St. Paul, Minnesota in 1902 to continue his law practice.